Choosing the right VDI solution can empower your employees to be more productive with a responsive desktop experience and set your company up for growth. In our Login Enterprise benchmark tests, a Dell PowerEdge R660xs powered by 4th Generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors supported 290 VDI sessions while consuming an average of only 2.46 watts per VDI session and maintaining acceptable virtual desktop response times. Maximizing virtual desktop density, as this Dell PowerEdge R660xs configuration did, opens the door to other benefits, including server rack consolidation and simplified power and cooling needs.

1. Dell PowerEdge R660xs:
Maximize VDI density while
delivering a strong user
experience and minimize
power consumption
Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) administrators endeavor to
deliver the best remote-user experience while getting the most
from data center resources. Dell™
PowerEdge™
xs servers have an
open vent pattern for optimal airflow and are, according to Dell,
specifically tuned for virtualization workloads.1
These models also
have fewer DIMM slots than standard PowerEdge servers, which
reduces power draw. This, in turn, reduces cooling needs. These
features in a 1U form factor enable admins to reduce data center
carbon footprints by consolidating server racks and simplifying
power and cooling needs.
We used the Login Enterprise benchmark to determine the
number of remote desktop sessions a Dell PowerEdge R660xs
server powered by two Intel®
Xeon®
Gold 6448Y processors
could deliver within acceptable end-user latency parameters.
This industry-standard benchmark helps IT teams “achieve
the optimal balance between user experience and cost.”2
We
found that the Dell PowerEdge R660xs server configuration we
tested supported 290 VDI sessions, consumed only 2.46 watts
per VDI session, and delivered a better-than-average end-user
experience (EUX).
Support up to 290
VDI sessions
while maintaining acceptable
response times
Balance performance
with density
and consume only 2.46
watts per VDI session*
Deliver a better-than-
average user experience
with a 6.2 Login Enterprise
EUX Score**
*Based on iDRAC (Integrated Dell Remote
Access Controller) power consumption data
**Login VSI says <5.5 is poor,
5.5 is average, and >7.5 is high.3
Image provided by Dell.
Dell PowerEdge R660xs: Maximize VDI density while delivering a strong user experience and minimize power consumption June 2023
A Principled Technologies report: Hands-on testing. Real-world results.

2. How we tested
To measure VDI user density on the Dell PowerEdge R660xs server powered by two Intel Xeon Gold 6448Y
processors, we set up a VMware Horizon®
8 VDI environment with Windows 10 images using two vCPUs,
3 GB of RAM, and running Microsoft Office 2019. We evaluated this PowerEdge R660xs configuration
in multiple ways:
• Determining the total VDI sessions: To measure VDI user density, we used the Login Enterprise 2022
Knowledge Worker workload.4
The Login Enterprise VSIMax represents the total number of VDI sessions
this Dell PowerEdge R660xs server configuration handled within acceptable latency parameters on this
workload. In addition to EUX performance input metrics, Login VSI, the company behind the Login Enterprise
benchmark, “carefully chose and tuned the timers to also reflect the load that a virtualization system
experiences when increasing the number of sessions that run on that system.”5
• Calculating VDI density: We gauged power efficiency by determining the watts per VDI session the server
consumed while running at maximum VDI user density. In our tests, the Dell PowerEdge R660xs powered
by two Intel Xeon Gold 6448Y processors supported 290 VDI sessions and consumed an average of 714
watts at peak usage.
• Evaluating the VDI user experience: The Knowledge Worker workload keeps up to five Office 365 apps,
plus Microsoft Edge, open simultaneously. The Login Enterprise EUX Score decreases as the number of users
increases—just as performance decreases as systems get busier and process more load. The Login Enterprise
EUX Score reflects real-world virtual desktop user operations.”6
The Login Enterprise benchmark and power efficiency results we report reflect the specific server configuration
and VDI environment we tested. Any difference in the configuration, as well as network traffic, browser changes,
or software additions, can affect these outcomes. For more information on our testbed, testing parameters, and
reporting procedures, see the science behind the report.
Login
Enterprise
VMware
Horizon
VMware
vCenter
DC01 Windows Server 2022
virtual launchers
Windows 10
virtual desktops
Infrastructure Launchers
Isolated 25G LAN switch
Top-of-rack 1G WAN switch
Dell PowerEdge R660xs rack server
Dell PowerEdge HS5620
cloud-scale server
Dell PowerEdge HS5620
cloud-scale server
Figure 1: Our testbed setup. Image of the Dell PowerEdge R660xs provided by Dell. Source: Principled Technologies.
Dell PowerEdge R660xs: Maximize VDI density while delivering a strong user experience and minimize power consumption June 2023 | 2

3. Support hundreds of remote desktop sessions
The Login Enterprise VSIMax reflects how many desktop sessions a
server can support until the moment the end-user experience dips
below an acceptable wait threshold. The benchmark determines
the acceptable wait threshold based on a median of application
response times. Once it has that, Login Enterprise assigns a
rating at the point the EUX score falls below the predetermined
threshold for 3 consecutive minutes.7
Supported 290 VDI sessions
= 1 VDI session
Figure 2: Login Enterprise 2022 Total Knowledge Worker VSIMax results. Image of
the Dell PowerEdge R660xs provided by Dell. Source: Principled Technologies
Balance performance with density
Dell designed the PowerEdge R660xs server to “minimize
the carbon footprint of your data center by better matching
the system power consumption with anticipated workload
requirements.”9
Our results show a Dell PowerEdge R660xs server
powered by two Intel Xeon Gold 6448Y processors was capable
of supporting 290 VDI sessions while consuming, on average,
714 watts under full load according to iDRAC power consumption
data. That comes out to just 2.46 watts per VDI session.
714 watts
under full load with
290 VDI sessions
2.46 watts
per VDI session
Figure 3: iDRAC power consumption results. Source: Principled Technologies.
About the new Dell PowerEdge
R660xs rack server
According to Dell, the air-cooled PowerEdge
R660xs is built to balance performance
and density and is capable of running the
most popular applications and workloads.
It is a highly configurable 1U server that fits
in existing data center environments. This
Zero Trust-capable server can also integrate
with OpenManage Enterprise and CloudIQ
solutions to optimize server management
and operations.
Fast performance
Up to two 4th
generation Intel Xeon Scalable
processors with up to 32 cores per socket
Fast memory
Up to 16 DDR5 RDIMMS
(up to 4,800 MT/sec)
PCle®
Gen 5 speed
High-bandwidth networking and
storage throughput8
f Learn more about the PowerEdge
R660xs at https://www.delltechnologies.
com/asset/en-us/products/servers/
technical-support/poweredge-
r660xs-spec-sheet.pdf.
About iDRAC
Dell Technologies amplifies visibility into
PowerEdge server hardware resources
with the iDRAC embedded in every Dell
PowerEdge server.10
Dell designed the iDRAC “for secure local
and remote server management that helps IT
administrators deploy, update and monitor
PowerEdge servers anywhere, anytime.”11
iDRAC features:
• iDRAC9 Telemetry Streaming
• Secured Component Verification
• iDRAC RESTFul API with Redfish support
• Agent-free embedded
server management12
Dell PowerEdge R660xs: Maximize VDI density while delivering a strong user experience and minimize power consumption June 2023 | 3

4. Deliver a better-than-average user experience
The Login Enterprise EUX Score is derived from several actions
that represent day-to-day activities and could affect end-user
satisfaction.13
These are the operations the EUX score reflects:
• Launch a complete application with
UI until it is ready for user input
• Keyboard input processing
• CPU-heavy actions
• Actions that mix CPU and disk I/O14
The Login Enterprise EUX application response times are a median
of the slowest application response times, which better reflect how
long users might find themselves waiting.15
Table 1: Login Enterprise Knowledge Worker EUX metrics for the Dell
PowerEdge R660xs.
Login Enterprise Knowledge Worker EUX metrics Result
EUX Score 6.2
Average of all app response time medians (seconds) 1.50
Median PowerPoint launch time (seconds) 1.39
Median Edge browser page load time (seconds) 2.63
About the Intel Xeon Gold 6448Y processor
Part of the 4th
Generation Intel Xeon Scalable Processor family, the Intel Xeon Gold 6448Y processor has
32 cores, 64 threads, a maximum turbo frequency of 4.10 GHz, a processor base frequency of 2.10 GHz,
and a 60MB cache.18
According to Intel, Intel Xeon Gold 6400 processors “are optimized for demanding
mainstream data center, multicloud compute, and network and storage workloads.”19
About Login Enterprise
The Login Enterprise benchmark mimics
real user activity to determine the user
experience and application response
times in virtual desktop environments.16
According to Login VSI, Login Enterprise’s
360° approach “delivers insights into
the performance, cost, and capacity of
your virtual desktops and applications –
from production to delivery and across
locations, settings, and infrastructure.”17
Dell PowerEdge R660xs: Maximize VDI density while delivering a strong user experience and minimize power consumption June 2023 | 4

5. Conclusion
Choosing the right VDI solution can empower your employees to be more productive with a responsive desktop
experience and set your company up for growth. In our Login Enterprise benchmark tests, a Dell PowerEdge
R660xs powered by 4th
Generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors supported 290 VDI sessions while consuming
an average of only 2.46 watts per VDI session and maintaining acceptable virtual desktop response times.
Maximizing virtual desktop density, as this Dell PowerEdge R660xs configuration did, opens the door to other
benefits, including server rack consolidation and simplified power and cooling needs.
1. Dell Technologies, “PowerEdge “xs” vs. “Standard” vs.
“xa” Servers,” accessed June 1, 2023, https://infohub.
delltechnologies.com/p/poweredge-xs-vs-standard-vs-xa-
servers/.
2. Login VSI, “Login Enterprise Introduces New Features to
Accelerate Root Cause Analysis and Improve End-User
Experience for VDI and DaaS ,” accessed June 5, 2023,
https://www.loginvsi.com/company/company-news/login-
enterprise-introduces-new-features-to-accelerate-root-
cause-analysis-and-improve-end-user-experience-for-vdi-
and-daas/.
3. Login VSI, “Login Enterprise Feature Spotlight,” accessed
June 5, 2023, https://www.loginvsi.com/wp-content/
uploads/2023/04/login-enterprise-eux-score-flyer.pdf.
4. Login VSI, “Introducing the New Login Enterprise 2022
Knowledge Worker Workload,” accessed June 2, 2023,
https://www.loginvsi.com/resources/blog/login-enterprise-
2022-knowledge-worker-workload/.
5. Login VSI, “Login Enterprise EUX Score,” accessed
June 5, 2023, https://support.loginvsi.com/hc/en-us/
articles/4408717958162-Login-Enterprise-EUX-Score.
6. Login VSI, “Login Enterprise EUX Score.”
7. Login VSI, “Login Enterprise EUX Score.”
8. Dell Technologies, “New PowerEdge R660xs Rack Server,”
accessed June 1, 2023, https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/
dell-poweredge-servers/new-poweredge-r660xs-rack-
server/spd/poweredge-r660xs/.
9. Dell Technologies, “PowerEdge R660xs Specification
Sheet,” accessed June 1, 2023, https://www.
delltechnologies.com/asset/en-us/products/
servers/technical-support/poweredge-r660xs-
spec-sheet.pdf.
10. Dell Technologies, “Server Power Consumption Reporting
and Management,” accessed June 1, 2023,
https://infohub.delltechnologies.com/p/server-power-
consumption-reporting-and-management/.
11. Dell Technologies, “Integrated Dell Remote Access
Controller (iDRAC),” accessed June 1, 2023, https://www.
dell.com/en-us/dt/solutions/openmanage/idrac.htm.
12. Dell Technologies, “Integrated Dell Remote Access
Controller (iDRAC).”
13. Login VSI, “Login Enterprise EUX Score,” accessed
June 5, 2023, https://support.loginvsi.com/hc/en-us/
articles/4408717958162-Login-Enterprise-EUX-Score.
14. Login VSI, “Login Enterprise EUX Score.”
15. Login VSI, “Login Enterprise EUX Score.”
16. Login VSI, “Login Enterprise Platform Overview,” accessed
June 5, 2023, https://www.loginvsi.com/wp-content/
uploads/2023/04/login-enterprise-overview-datasheet.
pdf.”
17. Login VSI, “Login Enterprise Platform Overview.”
18. Intel, “Intel®
Xeon®
Gold 6448Y Processor,” accessed
June 1, 2023, https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/
products/sku/232384/intel-xeon-gold-6448y-processor-
60m-cache-2-10-ghz/specifications.html.
19. Intel, “4th
Gen Intel®
Xeon®
Scalable Processors,” accessed
June 1, 2023, https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/
products/details/processors/xeon/scalable/gold.html.
Principled Technologies is a registered trademark of Principled Technologies, Inc.
All other product names are the trademarks of their respective owners.
For additional information, review the science behind this report.
Principled
Technologies®
Facts matter.®
Principled
Technologies®
Facts matter.®
This project was commissioned by Dell Technologies.
Read the science behind this report at https://facts.pt/tTUnDL4
Dell PowerEdge R660xs: Maximize VDI density while delivering a strong user experience and minimize power consumption June 2023 | 5